Remove the hard drive from the HDD and install Windows on the SSD while preserving the files.
Remove the hard drive from the HDD and install Windows on the SSD while preserving the files.
You can delete Windows from your HDD while preserving files and settings by following a clean partitioning process. Then, reinstall Windows on the SSD without needing a dual-boot setup. The key steps involve formatting the old drive, transferring data to the new SSD, and rebuilding the bootloader. Make sure to back up important data before proceeding.
Ensure your Windows installation is ready on the SSD. Install games from the beginning on the SSD, or if using Steam, direct it to use the HDD folder for games and keep the game folders there unless you prefer moving them. To halt dual booting, remove the Windows directory and its contents from the HDD while preserving your user folders. You may need to clean up other files to stop the dual boot prompt completely, as this process can be tricky after some time. Avoid cloning from the HDD to the SSD if you can.